CooperVision Report Shows How ECPs Can Boost Contact Lens Trial
A survey commissioned by CooperVision is shedding new light on the value of providing patients more sustainable contact lens options. Following the establishment of CooperVision’s partnership with Plastic Bank to make its clariti 1 day family the first net plastic neutral contact lenses in the US,1 the research sought to better understand how net plastic neutrality impacts patient perceptions of contact lenses and their eye care professionals (ECPs).
Through the clariti 1 day plastic neutral initiative, CooperVision funds the collection, processing, and reuse of general plastic waste that is equal to the weight of the plastic contained in every box of clariti 1 day lenses distributed in the United States in 2021.1 In just 6 months with Plastic Bank, CooperVision, its customers and wearers have removed the equivalent of more than 11 million plastic bottles from the environment, benefitting more than 770 collectors in 75 communities around the world.
The online survey—which was conducted by Decision Analyst—queried more than 200 U.S. residents aged 16 to 35 years old who require vision correction and are considering contact lens wear in the next six to eight months to determine how the concept of net plastic neutrality might influence their decisions. A summary of the report is now available for download here.
Results showed how the health of the planet is playing an increasingly important role in patient decisions—including whether to wear contact lenses or not. In fact, 83% of respondents agreed that their interest in trying contact lenses would somewhat or significantly increase if a plastic neutral lens was an option,2 and 81% agreed that a plastic neutral 1-day contact lens would make them feel better about using daily disposable contact lenses.3
In addition to increasing patient consideration of contact lenses, the insights reveal further opportunities for ECPs to positively engage with their patients and strengthen relationships through the proactive discussion of net plastic neutral contact lenses. Respondents said that if their ECP were to discuss or recommend a net plastic neutral contact lens, their perceptions of their doctor would change in positive ways.4 For example, nearly 8 in 10 said they would consider their ECP more innovative or up to date on the newest trends in eyewear,5 and 3 in 4 respondents agreed that trust in their ECP would increase.6
“The results of the survey clearly show that not only do patients care about the environment7, but they want their eye care professionals to care, too,”4 said Michele Andrews, OD, Vice President, Professional & Government Affairs, Americas, CooperVision. “By understanding these insights—and making it a point to discuss the sustainable benefits of CooperVision clariti 1 day contact lenses in practice—ECPs can deepen their relationships with their patients while making a positive impact on the environment.8”
“With contact lenses, we’re often focused on providing patients a lens that balances the priorities of comfort, convenience, and cost.10 The survey confirmed that these factors are important, as expected—but other factors such as sustainability also play an important part,” said Dr. Andrews.
CooperVision’s clariti 1 day plastic neutral initiative is part of the company’s broader commitment to sustainability, which includes best-in-class manufacturing processes resulting in award-winning conservation efforts in Puerto Rico and prestigious sustainability certifications in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Spain, and the U.K. Details about how these efforts fit into CooperCompanies’ overall progress on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues is available within Cooper’s inaugural ESG Report, published last month.
For more information and tools to help educate patients about the sustainability of clariti 1 day contact lenses, visit clariti.coopervision.com.
References
1 CVI data on file 2020. Sustainability report, clariti® 1 day in US. Based on top 4 global contact lens manufacturers.
2 CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 83% of all contact lens considerers interest in trying contact lenses would increase.
3 CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 81% of all contact considerers agree.
4 CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 78% of all contact lens considerers agree.
5 CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 79% of all contact lens considerers agree following exposure to what net plastic neutrality description.
6 CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 76% of all contact lens considerers agree following exposure to what net plastic neutrality description.
7 CVI data on file 2020. Decision Analyst online survey with 1-day soft CL wearers in US, n=304. Top 3 box on 7 point scale.
8. CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 87% of all contact lens considerers agree following exposure to net plastic neutrality description.
9 CVI data on file 2019. Randomised, double-masked, 1-week DD dispensing study with clariti® 1 day, single site UK, n=54.
10 CVI data on file 2020. prospective, double masked, bilateral, randomized cross-over dispensing 1-week study, with clariti® 1 day and 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST in FRP SiHy wearers. N=55; p<0.01.
11 CVI data on file 2021. clariti 1 day CL considerers sustainability research survey 205 US consumers aged 16-35 years, Decision Analyst, April 2021. 87% of all contact lens considerers agree following exposure to net plastic neutrality description.